Have We Underestimated the Harmful Effects of Being Overweight?

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According to a new study recently published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, research has in fact underestimated the harmful health effects associated with being overweight. The overall effects of body mass index (BMI) on health and risk of death can be difficult to determine, and some previous studies even suggested that optimal BMI may be higher than the typical recommendation, which is 18.5 to 24.9.

However, this new research tells a different story. Conducted at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, researchers assessed the link between BMI and risk of death in 32,452 mother and offspring pairs and 27,747 father and offspring pairs. The researchers used parent-child pairs for their study because, while BMI of parents and children is related due to genetic factors, BMI of adult offspring is not affected by parents’ medical conditions.

The researchers discovered that the harmful effects of low BMI were smaller and the damaging effects of high BMI were greater than indicated in previous studies. This is significant because worldwide obesity rates have risen from about 105 million in 1975 to 650 million in 2016, according to the World Health Organization.

If You Must Often Take a Seat, Swing Your Feet

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A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago suggests continuously moving while sitting at your desk – fidgeting – has a positive effect on metabolism, boosting metabolic rate more than either sitting or standing. Results of this study were recently published in the journal Work.

Numerous studies have shown that sitting at a desk all day increases waist size and heart disease risk. To fight the harmful effects of sitting, many employers have implemented strategies like company-wide yoga and walking breaks, lunchtime activities, and treadmill and/or standing desks for employees. In this latest study, researchers compared the effects of sitting at a desk, sitting at a desk fitted with a movable footrest that allows the feet to swing and move, and standing at a desk. Study participants moved through 15-minute stages of sitting, sitting with the device, and standing, while researchers collected metabolic and heart data during each stage.

According to researchers, using a desk fitted with the moving device raised metabolic rate 7 percent more than standing and 17 percent more than just sitting and did not have any impact on cognitive abilities. This effect, called non-exercise active thermogenesis, or NEAT, could have a positive impact on health.

Marijuana Use Is on the Rise in Expectant Moms

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More pregnant women in the United States are smoking pot, according to a new study conducted by researchers from Kaiser Permanente Northern California in Oakland. Results of this study, recently published in JAMA, suggest marijuana use is increasing at the fastest rate in teens and young women.

According to researchers, marijuana use in pregnant women under the age of 18 rose from about 13 percent in 2009 to almost 22 percent in 2016. In women between the ages of 18 and 24, marijuana use during pregnancy increased from 10 to 19 percent during the same period. Overall use of marijuana in pregnant woman of any age increased from 4 percent in 2009 to 7 percent in 2016.

The effects of prenatal exposure to marijuana – the most commonly used illicit drug during pregnancy – are not fully understood, but cannabis may affect fetal growth and development of the brain and nervous system. The legalization of medical and recreational marijuana in some U.S. states may be behind the uptick in pot smoking during pregnancy.